11.020 - Transportation of Detainees

Effective Date: 03/01/2017

11.020-POL

This policy applies to all employees who transport detainees. See 11.020-TSK-1 Transportation of a Detainee from the Location of Arrest to a Department Facility and 11.020-TSK-2 Transportation of a Detainee from the Department Facility to a Detention Facility.

1. Employees Will Take Reasonable Steps to Ensure the Safety of a Detainee in Their Custody and for the Safekeeping of Detainee’s Property

2. Officers Will Perform a Custodial Search Before Transporting the Detainee

3. Officers Will Search the Transport Vehicle at the Beginning and on the Completion of a Transport.

4. Officers Will Handcuff Detainees Behind the Back for Transport

Exception: Officers may handcuff the detainee in the front if officer safety is not compromised and the detainee’s physical ability is limited.

5. Officers Will Use the In-Car Video System to Record Transports -See 16.090-POL-1 Using the In-Car Video System

If the transport is not recorded with the ICV, then the reason is documented in the GO report.

6. Officers Will Transport Detainees in the Back Seat or Back Compartment of a Department Vehicle Equipped with a Screen or Partition Physically Separating the Officer from the Detainee

Exception: Captains of specialty units may issue standing approval for assigned personal to transport detainees in unit vehicles that are not equipped with a screen or partition.

Exception: If operational necessity requires that a detainee is transported in a vehicle not equipped with a screen or partition, then a second officer will ride behind the driver and beside the detainee in the backseat.

Exception: Exigent circumstances may require using the front seat for a detainee transport. Officers will screen the transport with a Sergeant explaining the exigency.

7. Officers Shall Transport Adult and Juvenile Detainees Separately

Officers shall transport Juvenile Detainees so that they do not have physical contact with Adult Detainees. Officers shall transport Juvenile Detainees out of the direct view of Adult Detainees.

Exception: Exigent circumstances may require transporting adults and juveniles together. Officers will screen the transport with a Sergeant explaining the exigency.

8. Officers Will Transport Opposite Genders Separately

Exception: Officers operating transport vans may transport opposite sex detainees in the same van if the sexes are separated by individual compartments.

Exception: Exigent circumstances may require transporting detainees of the opposite sex together. Officers will screen the transport with a Sergeant explaining the exigency.

9. Officers Engaged in Transporting a Detainee Will Not Respond to Routine Calls

Officers will transport a detainee directly to the required destination.

Exception: Officers may respond to a threat to life safety.

10. Officers Will Use the Transport Vehicle’s Seat Belts to Secure Detainees

Exception: This requirement does not apply to vehicles that do not have seat belts in the area that is used for transporting detainees.

Exception: If the circumstances do not allow the officer to safely secure the detainee, then the officer will transport the detainee unsecured. The officer must document the specific reason for the unsecured transport in the GO report.

11. Officers May Transport Department of Corrections Work Release Inmates with the Approval of a Sergeant

A sergeant must approve the request for transportation based on the following criteria:

- The inmate is violent or likely to become violent.

- The inmate is likely to escape if transportation is delayed.

- The inmate is a risk to the community, themselves, or the facility and its staff.

- The inmate has committed a new crime.

12. Officers Will Follow Directly Behind the AMR or Seattle Fire Department Vehicle When Used to Transport a Detainee

11.020-TSK-1 Transportation of a Detainee from the Location of Arrest to a Department Facility

When transporting a detainee in a Department vehicle from the scene to the Department facility the Officer:

1. Checks the detainee passenger area of the transport vehicle.

2. Searches the detainee.

3. Secures property removed from the detainee.

4. Secures the detainee in the transport area of the vehicle.

5. Updates the call as transporting a detainee and includes the current mileage.

a. If transporting a detainee of the opposite gender or a juvenile, notifies Communications over the air of the transport.

6. Updates the call with the ending mileage at the end of the transport.

7. Removes the detainee from the vehicle and checks the detainee passenger area.

8. Escorts the detainee into the holding cell area.

See 11.010-TSK-1 Securing a Detainee in a Department Holding Cell

11.020-TSK-2 Transportation of a Detainee from the Department Facility to a Detention Facility

When transporting a detainee in a Department vehicle from a Department facility to a detention facility the Officer:

Site Disclaimer: The Seattle Police Department's website was developed to provide general information. Data contained at this location is generally not reviewed for legal sufficiency. SPD documents displayed are for reference purposes only. Their completeness or currency are not guaranteed. Links or references to other information or organizations are for reference only and do not constitute an endorsement.